COLD-WATER ACCESSORIES

Inspired by our cold-water swimming feature to stay outdoors all year? Adding some neoprene accessories can make things much less biting, so let's dive in to our pick of the latest swim caps, gloves, socks and vests...

- HELEN WEBSTER

Frozen fingers. Numb feet. That feeling in your skull like F you've just downed a Slush Puppie as fast as you can for a dare. Yep, there are a whole new series of sensations to get familiar with as we move into winter outdoor swimming season. But as professor Mike Tipton explains on p28, covering your hands, feet, and head can make things a lot more comfortable, and yet you will still be able to see the benefits of cold-water swimming. So unless you're targeting an 'ice mile' under official regs, it's time to invest in a little extra neoprene.

Visit the website of any leading tri brand and you'll find a whole range of accessories available. So where to start? For the purposes of this group test, we've divided our testing into four categories based on the most common body areas that you'll need to keep warm: head, hands, feet, and body. We've then tried to compare like with like, for the purposes of giving a fair review.

That said, beyond what you find here there's much more available. Start with your wetsuit, then consider the water temperature you'll be swimming in, how long you hope/plan to swim for and how sensitive you are to the cold. Budget plays a part too. Are you prepared to go all-out and clad yourself head to toe in neoprene? Or will you pick a couple of key accessories that will make things more bearable?

Headwear ranges from a simple neoprene headband worn under your swim cap, to the neoprene caps with chin straps tested here, to a full neoprene balaclava (see next issue's Kit Zone). A neoprene neck buff can be added, too (see p52). For hands and feet, gloves and socks come in a range of neoprene thicknesses and type of construction.